Gavin and Stacey: Much-loved BBC comedy's last-ever episode to air on Christmas Day

The last-ever episode of BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey will be shown on Christmas Day this year, it was revealed on Friday.

Co-writers James Corden and Ruth Jones shared a picture of the completed script on Instagram which is titled ‘The Finale’.

The comedy originally ran over three series between 2007 and 2010 but returned for a one off Christmas special in 2019, which left viewers on a cliffhanger.

On December 25 this year, fans might finally find out if Smithy and Nessa (Corden and Jones’s characters) get together and if the details of the notorious secret “fishing trip” will come out.

Corden wrote on Instagram: “Some news… It’s official!!! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey. See you on Christmas Day, BBC One. Love Ruth and James.”

The show finale will be on BBC One - the channel it moved to after the Baby Cow production proved an initial success for BBC Three.

The main thread of the show had been the long distance relationship pursued by Gavin (Mathew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page), living between Essex and Barry Island.

But the show was also loved for its supporting characters such as unlikely couple Smithy and Nessa as well as Rob Brydon’s Uncle Bryn and Alison Steadman as Pam.

Jones had previously shut down rumours that the series would return. The Welsh actress said it was "sadly a rumour" on RTE Radio 1 in February.

But it seemed inevitable the show would be back to tie up loose ends after (spoiler alert!) the 2019 special ending with Nessa proposing to Smithy.

The BBC said: "We'll have: A chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, prawn bhuna, mushroom rice, bag of chips, keema naan, nine poppadoms and the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey!!!

"Coming this Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer."

This finale will be the third Christmas special - with a previous one off having aired inbetween series in 2008.